I need to demonstrate the bow drill to my scout group. So far all I've managed to get from a bow drill is a loud, high pitched squeaking sound and a tiny bit of smoke. No sign of the blackened "wood dust" though.
Is there anything I'm doing wrong? I'm using soft wood for the hearthboard and spindle, and a shoelace for the bowstring. The bowstring isn't slipping, and (I think) I'm putting enough pressure on the spindle.
So what could the problem be? Am I putting too much pressure on the spindle, or not enough? Am I moving the bow too fast or two slow? Is softwood (not pine) the right material to use?
Is there anything I'm doing wrong? I'm using soft wood for the hearthboard and spindle, and a shoelace for the bowstring. The bowstring isn't slipping, and (I think) I'm putting enough pressure on the spindle.
So what could the problem be? Am I putting too much pressure on the spindle, or not enough? Am I moving the bow too fast or two slow? Is softwood (not pine) the right material to use?